Last week, the Georgia Student Finance Commission announced over 137,000 Georgia public and private high school seniors in the Class of 2025 will receive a personalized GEORGIA MATCH direct admission letter illustrating the public colleges and universities in Georgia that are holding a spot for them.
Additionally, all GEORGIA MATCH participating institutions will waive application fees for students during November 2024 if students apply through the secure GEORGIA MATCH dashboard at gafutures.org/GEORGIAMATCH.
“Governor Kemp’s GEORGIA MATCH initiative is a transformational approach to college admissions in our state,” said Georgia Student Finance Commission President Lynne Riley. “GEORGIA MATCH removes the uncertainty and anxiety associated with the college application process. The GEORGIA MATCH letter shows students the public colleges and universities where they meet the academic requirements for admission. Georgia is unique that in addition to offering direct admissions, we connect our students with opportunities to fund their higher education through the HOPE Scholarship and HOPE Grant. Application fee waivers are available in November and March through GEORGIA MATCH to make the college application process simple and accessible.”
Georgia high school seniors will receive a letter of academic eligibility mailed to their home address. Students may view an electronic copy of their GEORGIA MATCH letter when they log in to their personalized GEORGIA MATCH dashboard. Every student will receive a letter illustrating academic eligibility for admission to the twenty-two Technical College System of Georgia institutions. Students with higher high school grade point averages will also see up to twenty-three University System of Georgia institutions listed on their letter. Georgia College & State University, the Georgia Institute of Technology, and the University of Georgia are not participating in the GEORGIA MATCH program, as they utilize a holistic admissions process.
First launched in October 2023, GEORGIA MATCH is one of the largest and most successful state-run direct admissions programs in the country. More than half of the 132,000 students who received a GEORGIA MATCH letter last year applied to an institution on their letter for the Fall 2024 semester. Technical College System of Georgia institutions reported a 26% increase in applications and a preliminary 9.3% increase in enrollment year-over-year for Fall 2024. University System of Georgia institutions reported a 10% increase in applications and a preliminary 6.2% increase in enrollment year-over-year for Fall 2024.
The Georgia Student Finance Commission will be hosting GEORGIA MATCH days across the state to help students utilize their secure GEORGIA MATCH dashboard, complete the FAFSA, and learn more about financial aid resources. High school counselors will also receive a copy of the letter along with training and resources to help seniors review their options and claim their spot at their perfect college match!
GEORGIA MATCH is an education and workforce initiative of Governor Kemp, developed in collaboration with the Governor’s Office of Planning & Budget, Governor’s Office of Student Achievement, Georgia Department of Education, Georgia Student Finance Commission, Technical College System of Georgia, and University System of Georgia. Students may view their personalized GEORGIA MATCH list, request more information, claim their spot, and learn more at gafutures.org/GEORGIAMATCH.
